BERLIN: Willi Holdorf, the 1964 Olympic decathlon champion, has died at the age of 80.

Holdorf died at home in northern Germany on Sunday following a severe illness, his wife Sabine Holdorf-Schust told Germany’s dpa news agency.

Holdorf led in Tokyo after nine of the 10 events. But his Soviet rival Rein Aun was stronger in the last event, the 1,500 metres. To win, Holdorf had to finish within 17 seconds of Aun. Holdorf had never achieved that, but his coach deliberately misled him and told him 12 seconds.

Holdorf, exhausted, weaved across the lanes down the final straight before collapsing over the finish line. He was exactly 12 seconds behind Aun, who helped him off the track.

Holdorf was at his strongest in the sprints in the decathlon, leading the 100 and 400 metres, and placed second in the discus and shot put.

Published in Dawn, July 8th, 2020